Patrick Roy Agrees to Coach Avalanche

Posted yesterday at 11:43pm

Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images(DENVER) -- NHL Hall-of-Fame goalie Patrick Roy has agreed in principle to join the Colorado Avalanche as its Head Coach/Vice President of Hockey Operations.

“This is an unbelievable day for me,” said Roy. “It’s a new and exciting challenge that I am really looking forward to. I would like to thank (Owner) Stan and (President) Josh Kroenke for this opportunity as well as (Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations) Joe Sakic for the trust they are putting in me."

"Almost 10 years to the day that I announced my retirement as a player I am back in Denver and hope the fans are as excited as I am,” he continued.

Roy played seven-and-a-half seasons for the Avalanche, winning two Stanley Cups.

The 47-year-old three time Vezina Trophy winner, has spent the last eight seasons as the head coach and general manager of the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he had a 348-196-0 record.

For his 19-year NHL career with Montreal and Colorado, Roy had a 551-315-131 record, and won four Stanley Cup championships.

Tyrann Mathieu Signs Four-Year Deal with Cardinals

Posted yesterday at 11:40pm

Chris Graythen/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The Arizona Cardinals signed their third round draft pick Tyrann Mathieu to a four-year contract Thursday.

“I never doubted it,” Mathieu said on the team's website when talking about signing an NFL contract. “I knew it was a long shot and it would be a process, but to finally sit down and sign my name on the dotted line means a lot to me.”

League sources told ESPN's Ed Werder that Mathieu will receive a $662,500 guarenteed signing bonus.

A source of ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter said Mathieu will receive $265,000 upfront with the rest of the money coming through annual roster bonuses.

Mathieu becomes the sixth of the Cardinals nine draft picks to sign.

Red Wings Blank Blackhawks, Take 3-1 Series Lead

Posted yesterday at 11:37pm

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images(DETROIT) -- Jimmy Howard saved all 28 shots he faced leading the Detroit Red Wings to a 2-0 Game 4 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in their Western Conference semifinal playoff series Thursday night.

The Red Wings lead the series 3-1, and are one win from eliminating the top-seeded Blackhawks from the postseason.

Howard has now held the Hawks to one goal or less in three straight games.

"He has kind of been in a groove for a while now," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "And we need that to be successful."

Red Wings defensemen Jakub Kindil scored his first goal of the postseason 10:03 into the second period.

Corey Crawford had 25 saves in the loss for Chicago.

Game 5 is Saturday night in Chicago. Start time scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Eastern.

Rangers Stave Off Elimination, Beat Bruins in OT

Posted yesterday at 11:35pm

Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Chris Kreider scored 7:03 into overtime Thursday night, to give the New York Rangers a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series.

The Bruins now lead the series 3-1.

The B's took a 2-0 lead in the second period on rookie Torey Krug's third goal of the series, but just 58 seconds later, Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask fell and Carl Hagelin slowly pushed a puck past the fallen goaltender to make it 2-1.

Derek Stepan tied the game just 1:15 into the third period. Stepan was behind the Bruins' net when he forced a turnover on Zdeno Chara and smacked one past Rask.

Bruin winger Tyler Seguin scored his first goal of the playoffs at the 11:54 mark, but Brian Boyle scored on the power play just 1:54 later, the last goal of the period.

Before the victory, the Rangers had been 0-3 in overtime games this postseason.

Game 5 is Saturday in Boston. The puck is set to drop at 5:30 p.m. Eastern.

Coyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Scoreboard Roundup - 5/23/13

Posted yesterday at 10:05pm

Getty Images/Hemera(NEW YORK) -- NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference Semi-Finals - Game 4: New York Rangers 4 – Boston Bruins 3 OT (Bruins lead series, 3-1)

Western Conference Semi-Finals – Game 4: Detroit Red Wings 2 – Chicago Blackhawks 0 (Red Wings lead series, 3-1)

Game 5: Los Angeles Kings 3 - San Jose Sharks 0 (Kings lead series, 3-2)

MLB: Cleveland Indians 12 (27-19) – Boston Red Sox 3 (28-20)

Los Angeles Angels 5 (20-27) - Kansas City Royals 4 (21-23)

Detroit Tigers 7 (26-19) - Minnesota Twins 6 (18-26)

Pittsburgh Pirates 4 (29-18) – Chicago Cubs 2 (18-28)

Toronto Blue Jays 12 (20-27) – Baltimore Orioles 6 (25-22)

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

LeBron James Leads The First Team All-NBA

Posted yesterday at 5:29pm

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Miami Heat forward LeBron James was a unanimous pick for this season’s All-NBA first team, the league announced Thursday. The four-time reigning MVP received all 199 votes from a group of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout North America.

Joining James on the first team is Los Angeles guard Kobe Bryant, who earned his 11th first team selection, tying him with former Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone for most picks.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant and San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan round out the team.

The All-NBA second team is led by New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol and Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin.

Houston Rockets forward James Harden was selected on the All-NBA third team. He's joined by Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard, Indiana Pacers forward Paul George and Golden State Warriors center David Lee.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Robert Griffin III: My 'Knee Feels Great'

Posted yesterday at 2:13pm

Patrick McDermott/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Washington Redskins franchise quarterback Robert Griffin III returned to the field to work out with some of his teammates on Thursday.

Griffin returned just four and a half months after surgery that reconstructed torn ligaments in his right knee. He appeared in a heavy black-brace.

"The knee feels great," Griffin said. "I'm able to do all the stuff out there without any hesitation, that's the best part about it. I'm excited about that."

"It's all about having that confidence and if you put the work in, you'll have that confidence when you get back out there on the field. It's about playing like you were never injured," he added.

Griffin said he still plans on being ready for the Sept. 9 season opener -- a Monday night game at home against the Philadelphia Eagles.

"I stand behind that," Griffin said. "That's always been the goal, but once again, I'm not going to risk my career to play in one game."

Griffin also said he wants to limit hits from opposing teams and that he has learned a lot after playing one season in the NFL.

Dale Jarrett Leads NASCAR Hall of Fame Class

Posted yesterday at 9:00am

Streeter Lecka/NASCAR via Getty Images(CHARLOTTE, N.C) -- NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett, mechanic Maurice "Chief" Petty, two-time premier series champion Tim Flock, driver Jack Ingram, and Fireball Roberts are members of NASCAR's Hall of Fame Class of 2014.

NASCAR made the announcement of its newest members on Wednesday. Jarrett got in on his first time on the ballot.

"I've always felt like it was an honor and a privilege to drive for NASCAR, and this sport has been such a huge part of the Jarrett life," Dale said. "Now to be part of something that my father is a part of, it just means the world to me." His father, Ned, is in the Hall.

Jarrett is a three-time winner of the Daytona 500 and is 21st on the career list with 32 victories.

Petty became the fourth member of the family to get the call, joining older brother, Richard Petty; their father, championship driver Lee Petty; and cousin Dale Inman, Richard's longtime crew chief.

"It makes me happy because that means all of us are in. So I'm tickled to death with it," Maurice said.

Jets' Geno Smith Hires Jay-Z's Roc Nation Agency

Posted yesterday at 8:40am

Joe Robbins/Getty Images(FLORHAM PARK, N.J.) -- New York Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith announced on Wednesday that he has hired Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports to represent him.

Smith, who was drafted by the Jets in the second round of April's draft and fired his original agents after falling out of the first round, is happy to have Jay-Z represent him.

"When you talk about being in New York from a standpoint of what they can do in the city, the connections that they have, I think it's a good move," said Smith, who became Roc Nation's first NFL client.

Roc Nation Sports hired its first NFLPA-certified agent, Kim Miale, and she will represent Smith.

"I'm sure he's done a lot of work and preparation on who he thinks is the best person to represent him," Jets head coach Rex Ryan said. "I don't think there will be a loss of focus or anything else. I can tell you this right now, he knows he has to focus on the job at hand. I'm confident that will happen. I don't even think about who represents him."

Smith currently finds himself in a quarterback battle with Mark Sanchez.

Penguins Explode for Seven Goals to Top Ottawa

Posted yesterday at 5:05am

Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images(OTTAWA) -- The Pittsburgh Penguins exploded for four goals in the third period en route to a 7-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series Wednesday.

The Penguins now lead the series 3-1.

While the Penguins ended up winning big, it looked like Ottawa had the edge early. Milan Michalek and Kyle Turris each scored for the Senators in the opening period, giving Ottawa a 2-1 lead heading into the second.

“That was the first time in regulation we’ve been behind,” Pittsburgh head coach Dan Bylsma said. “There was some good emotion going in the building for their team. We were able to do that, get some good chances and shoot the puck quite a bit. It looked like it was going to be tough to get it by (Anderson). There was a sense that this might take 50 or as many shots as it takes to break this guy. Fortunately we kept on that mindset.”

And it payed off.

Pittsburgh peppered Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson with 38 shots, scoring six times before Anderson was pulled in the third period.

Jerome Iginla and James Neal both scored twice for the Penguins, while Sidney Crosby and Pascal Dupuis each scored their 7th goal of the playoffs in the win.

Game 5 is Friday night in Pittsburgh. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.

Program Schedule

Monday - Friday

Saturday

Sunday